Trouble coming for Sheila Dikshit? CIC orders disclosure of Delhi govt indictment by Lokayukta

New Delhi, Oct 17: It seems trouble is coming for Delhi's former Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.

The Central Information Commission has directed the Delhi Government to make public all the details of a 2008 Lokayukta order which indicted the then Chief Minister of Delhi, Sheila Dikshit of misusing the public funds. Lokayukta Manmohan Sarin had indicted her using the public funds for publicity by printing her photographs on loan applications for Dilli Swarojgar Yojna.

Sarin in the past had sought then President Pratibha Patil's permission to recover Rs 11 crore for the issue but it was rejected. The CIC order came after activist SC Agarwal sought information on the issue.

The CIC order also said that comments of President Pranab Mukherjee on the issue should also be provided to activist Subhash Agrawal who had sought the information.

Later President Pranab Mukherjee was also asked by Sarin to issue an advisory to Dikshit and the then PWD Minister Raj Kumar Chauhan asking them to desist from putting their photographs on application forms offering loan at low rates to entrepreneurs from SC, ST, OBC and minority communities under 'Dilli Swarojgar Yojna'.

The President had referred the matter to Home Ministry for necessary action and issue of an advisory.

One of the points of the RTI application said, "Copy of rules/procedures/norms etc about action to be taken by Delhi government on observations/strictures of President of India on a report of Delhi Lokayukt mentioning if observations/strictures of President of India are binding for Delhi government."

On the basis of this RTI the CIC has now ordered disclosure of information on the action taken against Dikshit and Chauhan for overruling their officers for their publicity through loan application forms.

(With inputs from agencies)